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Former Oxford police chief to be honored

The only Oxford police officer to be killed in the line of duty will be honored for his service on Monday.Charlie Hughlon Peters, the Oxford police chief who was killed in 1969, is an honoree for the 2014 Georgia Public Safety Memorial Ceremony that will take place at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth Monday at 9 a.m.

The annual memorial ceremony pays tribute to fallen Georgia officers.

Peters died on July 9, 1969 in an Atlanta hospital from complications arising from two gunshot wounds he suffered on March 29. According to an article in The News from April 3, 1969, Peters and his partner responded to a call reporting a man had shot his wife. When they arrived at the house, the man fired after being told to put his gun down. An ensuing gunfight ended in Peters being shot in the stomach and side and the man being killed. Peters was 57.

Fallen officers’ names are inscribed in a granite memorial wall at the training center, which was erected in 1997. Governor Nathan Deal will give a keynote address and present a framed medal of memorial and proclamation.“It’s to honor the people who protect and serve our state who have lost their lives,” said Sharla Shockley, executive assistant to the director at the training center.

She said about 500 people are expected to come out and show their support.

Among those in attendance will be current Oxford Police Chief Dave Harvey and Peters’ 75-year-old son.